PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eric Draven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Zanta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Draven
vs
Zanta

190 cm
27
205 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

209 cm
28
205 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Powerful

Blood Bank ($10)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Eric Draven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Igor Zanta!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Winston Howard and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zanta blocks a head kick by Draven.
Draven leaves Zanta with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Draven pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zanta blocks a head kick by Draven.
Zanta avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zanta shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Draven as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Draven throws a sloppy head kick and Zanta moves out of range easily.
Zanta misses with a takedown
and Draven makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Eric Draven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Zanta.
Draven tries a head kick but it misses.
Draven throws a lazy head kick

and Zanta counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Zanta throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zanta is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Draven has managed to free his arm - good work.
Zanta winds up and cracks Draven with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zanta misses with a head shot. Draven uses the momentum to regain guard.
Zanta working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Draven's head.
Zanta throws a big elbow that misses.

Zanta thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Zanta throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zanta throwing strikes from guard but Draven blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zanta in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zanta accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zanta loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zanta with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zanta postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zanta loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zanta has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zanta in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zanta postures up in Draven's guard and throws a big left but Draven blocks it.
Draven is breathing heavily.
Zanta throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Draven works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zanta throws a big elbow that misses.
Draven utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zanta distracts Draven with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zanta in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zanta throws a big right hand that misses.
Zanta with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zanta with a flurry of punches that miss.
Draven working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zanta.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Zanta's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Zanta in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Draven might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Draven avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zanta passes into half guard.
Zanta looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Draven with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Zanta is working for a kimura but Draven is defending it quite comfortably.
Zanta is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Zanta thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Zanta dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Zanta looks for a takedown but Draven sprawls well.
Zanta has a takedown stuffed.
Nice sprawl there from Draven as Zanta shoots in.
Eric Draven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Zanta.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zanta shoots in for a takedown but Draven shows good takedown defense.
Eric Draven is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanta will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Draven throws a lazy head kick

so Zanta counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Zanta is looking to work some ground and pound but Draven has wrist control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Zanta's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Zanta throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Draven working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zanta.
Zanta working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zanta is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Zanta drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zanta jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Zanta is working Draven over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zanta with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zanta lands a couple of elbows.
Zanta working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zanta throws a big elbow that misses.
Zanta throwing strikes from guard but Draven blocks nicely.
Zanta with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zanta throwing strikes from guard but Draven blocks nicely.
Zanta throws a strike but Draven rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Zanta is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zanta lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Zanta throwing shots but Draven is blocking nicely.

Zanta is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Draven is just riding it out for now. Zanta eventually gives up the hold.

Zanta is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Draven is just riding it out for now. Zanta eventually gives up the hold.
Draven blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zanta.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zanta is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Zanta wants to work for an arm triangle but Draven is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Zanta winds up and cracks Draven with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Zanta is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Draven wants to control but Zanta is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Zanta showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Zanta closes this distance looking for a takedown but Draven circles away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Draven.
Draven looking to land some kicks to the body here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Draven goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Draven dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Zanta. That did some damage!
Eric Draven seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanta fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zanta fails with the takedown.
Eric Draven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Zanta.
A head kick misses from Draven.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Zanta gets a double leg takedown into Draven's guard.
Zanta postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Zanta is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Draven is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Draven has escaped and now he's on top!
Zanta looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zanta has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zanta is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zanta thows a huge punch but Draven dodges it nicely.
Zanta missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Zanta is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Draven defends it well.
Draven blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zanta.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zanta not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zanta winds up and cracks Draven with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zanta throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Zanta is looking for a kimura but Draven is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zanta to get the leverage.
Zanta throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Draven blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zanta.
Zanta winds up and cracks Draven with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Zanta is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Draven sees it coming and defends easily.
Draven taking some punishment here, with Zanta in his half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zanta thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Draven's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Zanta is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zanta throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Zanta comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zanta winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight for Igor Zanta!
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight for Igor Zanta!
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight for Igor Zanta!

Igor Zanta wins by unanimous decision!